Lamp holder



19336 M. E. ATKINSON LAMP HOLDER Filed April 30. 1932 2 Sheeis-Sheet 1 May 30, 1933. M. E. ATKH'NSON LAMP HOLDER Filed April 30. 1932 2 Sheeis-$heet 2 fig, 497113719071 Patented May 39, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACON E. ATKINSON, OF ELLERSON, VEEGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS H. MCGHEE, OF ELLE-RSON, VIRGINIA LAMP HOLDER Application filed April 30, 1932.

This invention relates to a lamp holder, and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which is adapted to house a lamp of a general type employed in connection with road construction and repair or to be used to give warning of any obstruction, such as a vehicle parked on the roadway and the like.

It is also an object of the invention to pro- Vide a device of this kind which comprises relatively movable sections whereby the holder is enabled to readily adjust itself to lamps or the like of varying sizes and wherein means are provided for normally urging said sections one toward the other.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a holder of this kind with means whereby the same may be effectively maintained in desired applied position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind having associated therewith signals which can be effectively employed to give desired warning in daylight.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my im proved lamp holder whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set fortln The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

in order that my invention may be the better understood, 1 will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a lamp holder constructed, in accordance with embodiment of'my invention with a daylight signal in raised or effective position;

7 Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken through the device as illustrated in Figure 1 with the daylight signal as shown in Figure 1 in a lowered or ineffective position together with a signal flag positioned upon the holder igure 3 is a sectional view taken substan- Serial No. 608,510.

tially on the line 33 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrow; 7

Figure at is a detailed fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line l4c of Figure 2.

My improved holder as disclosed in the accompanying drawings comprises two sections A and B, each of said sections being substantially of duplicate construction and comprising an outer face wall 1 defined by the side walls 2. Each of these sections A and B is also provided with a bottom wall 3. The bottom wall 3 of the member A in its central free marginal portion is provided with an outwardly directed extension 4 herein disclosed of a V formation which is adapted to be received within a correspondingly formed recess 5 in the free marginal portion of the bottom wall 3 of the section B.

This interfitting arrangement of the bottom walls 3 of both of the sections A and B assures effective support for a lamp L as illustrated by broken lines in Figure 2 when placed within the holder and said sections A and B have been moved away one from the other to effect the desired adjustment of the holder to accommodate the lamp. lVhile I have indicated in Figure 2 by broken lines a lamp of a conventional hand type yet it is to be stated at this time that my holder can be employed with any desired illuminating unit, such as a torch or electric light.

In their assembly, the sections A and B have their bottom walls 3 coplanar with the side walls 2 in alignment and said sections A and B are maintained in desired assembled relation through the medium of a series of elongated shanks 6 directed through the opposite end portions of the bottom walls 3 of the sections and the adjacent portions of the face walls 1 and also directed through the upper portions of the side walls 2 and the adjacent portions of the face walls 1. The sections A and B are free to move lengthwise of these applied shanksfi each of which being provided at its opposite end portions with the enlargements 0r heads 7. Each of the shanks 6 extends within an enlarged bore 8 the inner end of which constituting a shoulder 9. Interposed between this shoulder 9 and the adjacent end of the enlargement or head 7 is an expansible member 10 herein disclosed as a coil spring encircling the portion of the shank 6 within the bore 8.

The tension of each of these members or springs 10 is such to constantly urge the sections A and B one toward the other yet readily allowing said sections A and B to have separating movement in order that the holder may accommodate itself to lamps or kindred illuminating units of varying sizes.

Each of the face walls 1 is provided with a light opening 11 of desired dimensions and over which is disposed a glass 12 or other transparent or translucent member of desired color so that with an illuminating unit within the holder the desired signalling action will be obtained.

The sections A and B have secured to the central part of their upper edges the extremities of a bail 14, one end portion of said bail being attached to a section, as B, by a screw 15-while the opposite end portion of the bail is detachably held to the second section A by a conventional staple 16 and lock 17. The sections A and B in the lower portions of the face walls 1 and in the bottom walls 3 are provided with suitably positioned openings 18 whereby requisite air circulation may be had within the holder to assure desired support of combustion for the lamp L or kindred illuminating unit.

The side walls 2 of one of the sections, as B, have secured along their inner or free marginal portions the plates 19. These plates 19 project upon the adjacent margins of the side walls 2 of the section B and lap the free or adjacent marginal portions of the second section A.

These plates 19 extend beyond the margins of the side walls 2 of the section B a distance sufficient to assure closing of the gaps between the side Walls 2 of the sections A and B when said sections are separated. This bridging of such spaces is to prevent air gusts entering the holder and extinguishing the lamp.

It is also to be stated that the bail 14 is sufiiciently resilient to compensate for the various relative adjustments of the sections A and B but it is to be particularly noted that when the bail 14 is locked in its effective position means are provided to prevent removal of the lamp L from within the holder. This is of advantage as it minimizes the liability of theft.

The face wall 1 of one of the sections, as A. has disposed transversely across the upper portion thereof the plate 20 provided along its upper and lower marginal portions with the inwardly facing grooves or channels 21 in which are adapted to be slidably received themarginal portions of an elongated signal strip or plate 22. This plate 22 may have arranged thereon the word Danger as illustrated in the drawings or, if desired, may have suitable notice thereon such as Men working. This last notice if desired could be produced upon the opposite face of the plate 22 as this plate 22 when desired can be readily removed and reversed.

This face wall 1 adjacent the opposite ends of the plate 20 is provided with outstanding lugs 23 with which are pivotally connected the free extremities of the side arms 24 of a substantially U-shaped frame F. The base member 25 of this frame F has secured thereto a marginal portion of a sheet 26 of metal or the like which may be colored red or otherwise as desired and which sheet 26 when the frame F is raised, as in Figure 1, serves effectually as a daylight signal. The side marginal portions of this sheet 26 are provided with suitably positioned tongues '27 adapted to interlock with the eye members 28 carried by the side arms 24 of the frame F whereby said sheet 26 is effectively held to the frame yet capable of removal therefrom when desired.

hen the frame F is raised it is maintained in such position by the spring clips 29 secured to the upper portions of the adjacent section A and which have spring engagement with the side arms 24. When the frame F is in its lowered position as illustrated in Figure 2 it is held in such position by the suitably position-ed spring clips 30 carried by the section A and which clips 30 also engage the side arms 24. When a lamp or other illuminating unit is in use and the frame F is lowered it is, of course, desired that the sheet 26 be removed.

The inner surface of the face wall 1 of the section A is provided with a holder 31 with which is adapted to be engaged the staff 32 carrying a signal flag 33.

My improved holder is adapted to be held in desired position upon say the side board of a wagon or kindred support through the medium of the engaging bracket 34 secured to the side wall 2 of one of the sections, as A. This bracket 34 as herein disclosed is substantially in the form of an inverted U and its manner of use is believed to be self-evident.

Each of the side walls 2 of one of the sections, as B, is provided in its lower portion with a bracket 35 with which is slidably engaged an elongated anchoring member 36 which is adapted to be forced down into the ground or kindred supporting surface when the occasions of practice may so allow. The upper portion of this member 36 is provided with a lateral extension 37 which is adapted to be engaged with a second slip 38 carried by the side wall 2 of the section B to hold the member 36 in a raised or inoperative position.

.The bottom wall 3 of each of the sections A and B carries a pair of parallel guide rods 39 underlying said bottom wall and of a length to also underlie the bottom wall 3 of the second section. The guide rods 39 of the bottom Wall 3 of one section are reversely related with respect to the rods 39 of the second section. These rods have slidably mounted thereon elongated clamping plates 40 with which is associated a clamping medium herein disclosed as embodying a headed member 41 directed through the central portions of the plates 40 and with which coacts a wing nut 42. Surrounding the headed member 41 and positioned between the clamping plates 40 is an expansible member 43 herein disclosed as a coil spring which serves to normally force the plates 40 apart.

These plates 40' provide means whereby the holder may be clamped upon a suitable supporting member and these clamping plates 40 also provide means when the holder is placed upon a roadway or kindred surface to assure a spacing of the bottom walls 3 from such surface to afford passage of air through the openings 18 in the bottom walls 3.

While in the accompanying drawings the walls of the sections A and B are of material thickness suggesting a wood structure, yet it is to be understood that such sections if desired may be made of sheet metal of any preferred gauge or any other desired material.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a lamp holder constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. A lamp holder comprising two substantially duplicate sections, each of said sections comprising an outer face wall, side walls and a bottom wall, means for holding said section s in assembled relation and allowing movement one away from the other to compensate for lamps of varying sizes, and means for constantly urging said sections together, a wall of each of the sections being provided with a light opening.

2. A lamp holder comprising two substantially duplicate sections, each of said sections comprising an outer face wall, side walls and a bottom wall, means for holding said sec tions in assembled relation and allowing movement one away from the other to compensate for lamps of various sizes, and means for constantly urging said sections together, a wall of each of the sections being provided with a light opening, the bottom wall of one of the sections having an extension and the bottom wall of the second section having a recess in which said extension is received.

3. A holder for an illuminating unit comprising two sections, means for holding said sections in assembled relation, said means allowing said sections to move one away from the other, means for constantly urging said sections one toward the other, an end of the holder being open, and a bail extending across the open end portion of the holder and secured to said sections, said bail being me silient to compensate for the different relative adjustments of the sections.

l. A holder for an illuminating unit comprising two sections, means for holding said sections in assembled relation, said means allowing said sections to move one away from the other, means for constantly urging said sections one toward the other, an end of the holder being open, and a bail extending across the open end portion of the holder and secured to said sections, said bail providing means to prevent removal of the illuminating unit within the holder.

5. A lamp holder comprising two substantially duplicate sections, each of said sections comprising an outer face wall, side walls and a bottom wall, means for holding said sections in assembled relation and for movement one away from the other to compensate for lamps of different sizes, means for constantly urging said sections together, a wall of each of the sections being provided with a light opening, and anchoring means carried by the sections.

6. A holder for an illuminating unit comprising two sections, means for holding said sea tions in assembled relation, said means allowing said sections to move one away from the other to permit the use of units of different sizes, means for constantly urging said sections one to the other, a bottom wall for each of the sections, one of said bottom walls having an outwardly directed extension, and the bottom wall of the second section having a recess to receive said extension, the Wall of each section being provided with a light openmg.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

MACON E. ATKINSON. 

